India–China ties thaw as direct flights resume, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra restarts after six years

In a significant diplomatic thaw, India and China have agreed to resume direct flights, facilitate visas, share hydrological data, and revive cultural exchanges — key steps aimed at mending a relationship that has been in deep freeze since the 2020 border clash in eastern Ladakh.

The developments followed a meeting in New Delhi between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and visiting Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, during which both sides committed to “stabilize and rebuild ties with a focus on people-centric engagements,” according to a statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday.

The meeting also coincided with the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra — a revered pilgrimage that was suspended six years ago amid escalating military tensions. The first batch of 50 pilgrims was flagged off on Friday, marking a symbolic reset in the strained bilateral relationship.

The government has selected 750 pilgrims from more than 5,500 applicants for the yatra between June and August this year. Pilgrims will travel in five batches via the Lipulekh route and 10 batches via Nathu La. The yatra’s restart was announced on April 26, just days after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, underlining the strategic and symbolic weight the journey holds in India-China diplomacy.

Misri, the statement said, “appreciated China’s cooperation” in reviving the pilgrimage and held discussions on expanding bilateral cooperation, including the early conclusion of an updated Air Services Agreement and the sharing of transboundary river data.

The MEA also pointed to the April 2025 meeting of the Expert Level Mechanism on transboundary rivers, expressing hope for swift progress on restoring data-sharing arrangements that were disrupted during the diplomatic freeze.

Efforts to restore direct air connectivity — suspended since the Covid-19 pandemic — will be expedited, with both sides reportedly keen on finalizing a revised air services framework. Visa facilitation measures, as well as greater exchanges between think tanks and journalists, were also discussed.

Beyond people-to-people contact, economic considerations were also on the table. India has urged Beijing to ensure predictability in the supply of rare earth materials — critical for electronics and renewable technologies — after China placed certain exports under tighter controls.

“We are in touch with the Chinese side both here in Delhi and in Beijing to bring predictability in the supply chain,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly briefing. The Xi Jinping administration had earlier this year tightened export regulations on key rare earth components, affecting global supply chains.

China, responding to questions on export restrictions, said Thursday it was open to holding talks with India and was committed to keeping industrial supply chains stable.

Despite steps toward de-escalation, deep-rooted mistrust remains. Earlier this week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar acknowledged the complexity of India-China relations, shaped by both countries’ rapid ascent on the global stage.

“Our relations have gone through a difficult period since the 2020 military clash in the Himalayas,” he said. “Many exchanges were suspended… but both sides think relations can improve step by step.”

The 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic ties next year is emerging as a potential inflection point. Both governments have agreed to coordinate commemorative activities — another sign that diplomacy may be regaining ground after years of silence, suspicion, and standoff.